The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-06-12

corridor In winch he
ehANHS sh'hh" was locked up made
Warden Green discovered the plot q few
days before 1t was to DO put into execu-
ton, and Becker since then has been very
obedient prisoner. His attempt to escape re-
duced tho Communication to which he would
otherwise have been entitled by nearly year.
He has worked almost continuously in the
shoe shop. but the manner In which he has
made up Warden Green's annual statistical
reports shows that his penmanship Is still
perfect. and that his fingers have not lost that
delicacy OF touch which made him famous
among his counterfeiting associates.
He Is not yet 40 years old, and he looks az
stout, fresh, and rosy as he did before his long
sojourn on Crow Hill. He is 8 feet inches
tall. has iron-gray hair, hazel eyes, and light
complexion. Becker came with his parents to
this country from Germany when he was lad
and learned the engraver's trade. His expert
ness attracted the attention Of George Engler.
George Wilkes, and other celebrated forgers.
and he soon became their valuable ally.
Third National Bank OF baltimore In Au;
gust. 1872, brought him into notoriety. and
he led to 1 Europe with Joe Elliott, and united
with Joe Chapman. Ivan siscovitch, and others
to flood Turkey with forged drafts. Theywere
all arrested and each was sentenced to three
years and six months imprisonment in smyr-
ma. They were transferred to more SECURE
R Rilios and siseovis their
ing Joe Chapman behind them Becker and
his two Sompanions fed to London I, ana lived
morning Mrs. Chapman. who. knew their Sc;
crete and WHO was supposed to DO inSepsed
r. Fatfes sm Ss
money and jewelry missing; siscoyitch. who
s Ssesss sna @ soo 9si s to ARs
in New York in July, 1876. Becker. Joe Elliott.
and Clement HeETnE were ar6e s In this
the Union Trust Company. and Becker saved
Ssos :, bs5s e @s isI. RRss
and others, then under arrest In Italy. In q
gigantic sShems to forge mercantile paper ri IN
failed and he was soon released.
next s5RS ne forging 2, hs
Nathan Marks. a constable. who was soon re-
Esfs COTTAGES II sspS New whers
eina na his worR on the 1900
franc note was ALMOST complete: and In few
yeT wyoRa beOn IN
The President Of the Bank Of France came
over to. testify at the trial. and he pronounced
that the gen1ine 1000 franc note, from, which
Rss sse made bf
after the trial hnd hes been L. Se
time. and Becker threatens to sue for the note
~ Beet 81 i married Pretty East New York girl
poets that one Of her relatives Informed on him
and was well Paid BY the Bank Of France His
asf s Beseer
tho th prison in tons.antinoPie; which be de-
sth sas one feet Inc ed e
doors. and cast steel CRATE bars an inch and
THE cell doors locked with top and bottom
q general key that fitted. all OF them. A key
that the prison Marshal came rushing in to
os ssn eS sfn
an impression Of 4, and It was back IL the lock
some som little fies. som some turkish ssps. cans.
and ers' an ddes2%SR Eo tt
rid9r: / wa; the last man 70 be locked up at
aGsS the
up. About midnight. when the guards were
snoring, Siscovitch gets out and unlocks our
door, Chapman was ,a asleep S and md we didn't
murder and spoiled our plans.
We broke, open the storeroom. got our
CiOtues. anu tuSu lounu ouE way luto tuo, y1fu.
We boosted little Elliott up to an archway. and
top. As luck would have 1t. ne stepped on the
wire Of the prison bell and set It, jlngling in q
way that froze US stt1 We, however. had
with whose room the wire communicated, II he
awoke. must have concluded 1t was another
Joke. and have gone to sleep again: We fixed
the rope, and down II We scrambled. Another
trouble then confronted US. We woke up about
sy %ss and SsS esed
our lanterns the dogs, stopped bowling
Finally, after nights wandering and
many narrow escapes, We got settled down
with Mrs. Siscovitch. Soon Greek friend ap-
two months. sent Elliott to Eng land after
some money. and when 1t came We all went to
London. Mrs. Siscovitch was arrested and
held for Q while. but got of and joined her hus-
"Eliott and went to board with Joe Chap;
left her husband behind, for she knew that he
had NO courage, and would give US away to
earn the Communication. Siscovitch and his
wife came to board with Mrs. Chapman.
left then as did not trust him him
as HAS haas been fs said sRS Months sterSasd
when heard that Mrs. Chapman had boon
murdered and went straight back to London
to testify, IL need be. When the authorities
decided to drop the case. Elliott and | came
Mrs. Cbapman's death, whether She was MUIR
dered by Siscoyttch or not. He left her house
shortly before her death, and shall always
think he took her Jewels and money. friend
OF mine met him year or 80 later In the Bow
cry loaded down with rings and pins
Oae OF vassars Bright Daughters.